Puttur: Woman kept in captivity for 3 months, rescued by authorities

Team Udayavani, Jan 4, 2024, 8:26 AM IST

Authorities from the Women and Child Welfare Department, alongside the Health Department, conducted a joint operation and rescued a married woman who had been confined in a room with deplorable conditions for three months under the pretext of illness. The incident took place at Karejja near Idabettu of Kemminje village.

The victim, identified as Ashalata, is the wife of Shripati Hebbar. The room, where the woman was found, was barricaded with a single door, lacking natural light, and the only window was covered with a cement sheet. Acting on an anonymous call, officials launched the operation to uncover the alleged confinement.

Ashalata, originally from  Vittal, had been married to Shripati for a few years in an inter-caste marriage. The couple has two children, and reports suggest their relationship had started amicably. However, concerns were raised about Asha’s well-being, leading to the discovery that she had been secluded in a room near the house.

The conditions in which Ashalata spent her days were appalling, resembling a warehouse-like room devoid of basic comforts. The room was locked, with accumulated waste, and the stench was overwhelming. Authorities reported that she had to sleep on the bare floor, lacking even a mat. The family allegedly provided only biscuits and tea once a day. After rescuing Ashalata, authorities bathed her and promptly transported her to the hospital due to her dire condition.

Complicating matters, the husband, Sripati, was not present during the operation, and efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. Despite the presence of Sripati’s sister at home, she reportedly did not come out of the house during the operation.

It is said that  Sripati’s sister later told the authorities that Ashalatha was possessed and her parents were also not in contact with them.

Mangala Kali, ACDC of the Department of Women and Child Welfare in Puttur, expressed concern over the women’s living conditions, emphasizing that the room was closed off from all sides, lacking even the most basic facilities. A thorough investigation is underway to understand the circumstances surrounding Ashalata’s isolation and establish contact with her family.